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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36478-36479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14999]

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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), as 
part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the 
general public and federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to ensure that requested data can be 
provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial 
resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, 
and the impact of collection requirement on respondents can be properly 
assessed.
    Currently, CNCS is soliciting comments concerning its proposed 
national evaluation of School Turnaround AmeriCorps. The primary 
purpose of the analysis is to assess the effects that AmeriCorps 
members who provide direct services in schools make on the success of 
school turnaround models and seek to understand the mechanisms by which 
this happens. Data will be collected from School Turnaround AmeriCorps 
grantees and schools as well as from a group of matched comparison 
schools. School Turnaround AmeriCorps grantees are required to 
participate in the evaluation as a condition of their funding.
    Copies of the information collection request can be obtained by 
contacting the office listed in the Addresses section of this Notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the individual and office 
listed in the ADDRESSES section by August 26, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the title of the 
information collection activity, by any of the following methods:
    (1) By mail sent to: Corporation for National and Community 
Service, Office

[[Page 36479]]

of Research and Evaluation; Attention Diana Epstein, Senior Research 
Analyst, 10th floor; 1201 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20525.
    (2) By hand delivery or by courier to the CNCS mailroom at Room 
8100 at the mail address given in paragraph (1) above, between 9:00 
a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    (3) Electronically through www.regulations.gov.
    Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY-
TDD) may call 1-800-833-3722 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern 
Time, Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diana Epstein, 202-606-7564, or by 
email at depstein@cns.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CNCS is particularly interested in comments 
that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of CNCS, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are expected to respond, including the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses).

Background

    The national evaluation of School Turnaround AmeriCorps will use a 
quasi-experimental design that compares schools affected by School 
Turnaround AmeriCorps (i.e., the treatment group) to a matched 
comparison group of low performing schools without the School 
Turnaround AmeriCorps initiative (i.e., the comparison group). This 
research design will attempt to isolate the effects of AmeriCorps 
members' service.
    This is a new information collection request. Information will be 
collected from AmeriCorps grantee staff, AmeriCorps members, school 
leaders, teachers, and parents using online surveys and semi-structured 
interviews and focus groups conducted in person and by phone.
    Type of Review: New.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: National Evaluation of School Turnaround AmeriCorps.
    OMB Number: None.
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: AmeriCorps grantee staff, AmeriCorps members, 
school leaders, teachers, and parents.
    Total Respondents: 4236. Note that this is the sum total of survey 
respondents and parents, since the same individuals in the categories 
of grantee staff, AmeriCorps members, school leaders, and teachers will 
take the survey and participate in interview or focus groups.
    Frequency: Some instruments will be administered twice per year, 
some only once per year. Data collection will occur for two years. See 
charts below for details on respondents and frequency of data 
collection.
    Average Time per Response: Averages 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2300 hours per year; 4600 total over 
2 years.

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                Survey                    AmeriCorps      Comparison            Pre/post?              Total
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Grantee staff.........................              13               0  No......................              13
AmeriCorps members....................             440               0  No......................             440
Principals............................              62              62  Yes.....................             248
Teachers..............................             348             348  Yes.....................            1392
                                                   863             410                                      2093
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    Total respondents: 4186.

Minutes--125580
Hours--2093

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              Interviews                  AmeriCorps      Comparison            Pre/post?              Total
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Grantee staff.........................              13               0  Yes.....................              26
AmeriCorps members....................              26               0  No......................              26
Principals............................              26              26  Yes.....................             104
Teachers..............................              26              26  Yes.....................             104
Parents...............................              50               0  No......................              50
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    Total respondents: 310.

Minutes--9300
Hours--155

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                       Focus group                          AmeriCorps
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Grantee staff...........................................              13
AmeriCorps members......................................              39
Principals..............................................              13
Teachers................................................              39
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    Total respondents: 104.

Minutes --3120
Hours--52
Total hours per year--2300
Total hours 2 years--4600

    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: June 20, 2014.
Stephen Plank,
Director, Office of Research and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 2014-14999 Filed 6-26-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P
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